title: Comprehensive medical assessments for monitoring and improving the health of residents in aged care facilities: existing comprehensive medical assessments coverage and trial of a new service model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure comprehensive medical assessment (CMA) completions among aged care residents in Australia; and to report the outcomes of a CMA service trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based descriptive study of CMA completions using Medicare data; and a qualitative study of an intervention trial carried out at a 115-bed residential aged care facility in Sydney, Australia. Fifty residents participated in the trial; 15 interviews were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2008, less than 50% of Australian aged care residents had a CMA completed. The CMA service trial improved CMA data quality and accessibility. A substantial proportion of residents were found to have previously unidentified health problems that impacted on their health and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMA rates are low. New approaches to achieving higher CMA rates, utilising information technology, hold promise. Strategies for ongoing monitoring of care to follow-up problems identified are required to achieve measurable improvements in residents' care and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Health Informatics Research and Evaluation Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. j.westbrook@usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Johanna I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Westbrook
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hordern
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009517:New South Wales; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011788:Quality of Life